FM: Serbia has strength for negotiations

BELGRADE We are going to negotiations with a belief that it is possible to find a balanced solution for Kosovo's final status that will be positive for Serbia. This is according to Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic. FM: Serbia has strength for negotiations “This can only be achieved if the Albanian side is truly committed to the agreement,” he told daily Vecernje novosti. “Everything is on the table, otherwise we would not have started a political dialogue at such a high level. Those, for who (Kosovo’s) independence is a done deal, are a minority in the world. Most of the UN states share our position and therefore help preserve our sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the minister was quoted as saying. “I am completely convinced that we can make something in the negotiations. If we did not have the appropriate strength, we would not have sat down at the negotiating table in the first place,” Mrkic stressed. He says he had an impression in the previous meetings that the EU this time shows understanding for Serbia’s position. “This makes the continuation and seriousness of the negotiations easier. I admit that it did not exist before. It is obvious they assessed that time has come to take care of our interests too. If the trend gets stronger, I believe that we will reach some solution in the end,” the minister explained. He underscored that the state platform for Kosovo would be “certainly released in the next several days”. “We are doing our vest to finish drafting the document and it takes some time. Everything that is important, we will share with parliament because it is not only a matter of the government. The platform is of utmost national importance and we want it to be a result of how the vast majority of our people feel,” Mrkic told the daily. When asked about an agreement on strategic partnership with Russia, he said that it would soon be signed. “We have practically completed the draft. The only question is where and on what occasion the two countries’ leaders will meet in order to sign this important document,” Mrkic noted. Commenting on Barack Obama’s reelection, he said that “this means continuity”. “We are convinced that we can only strengthen our bilateral relations. We continue where we left off. We have good cooperation with the U.S. in many areas and we are convinced that we can make it stronger because we want the best possible relations with Washington,” Mrkic concluded. Ivan Mrkic (Tanjug, file) Tanjug Vecernje novosti

FM: Serbia has strength for negotiations

“This can only be achieved if the Albanian side is truly committed to the agreement,” he told daily Večernje novosti.

“Everything is on the table, otherwise we would not have started a political dialogue at such a high level. Those, for who (Kosovo’s) independence is a done deal, are a minority in the world. Most of the UN states share our position and therefore help preserve our sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the minister was quoted as saying.

“I am completely convinced that we can make something in the negotiations. If we did not have the appropriate strength, we would not have sat down at the negotiating table in the first place,” Mrkić stressed.

He says he had an impression in the previous meetings that the EU this time shows understanding for Serbia’s position.

“This makes the continuation and seriousness of the negotiations easier. I admit that it did not exist before. It is obvious they assessed that time has come to take care of our interests too. If the trend gets stronger, I believe that we will reach some solution in the end,” the minister explained.

He underscored that the state platform for Kosovo would be “certainly released in the next several days”.

“We are doing our vest to finish drafting the document and it takes some time. Everything that is important, we will share with parliament because it is not only a matter of the government. The platform is of utmost national importance and we want it to be a result of how the vast majority of our people feel,” Mrkić told the daily.

When asked about an agreement on strategic partnership with Russia, he said that it would soon be signed.

“We have practically completed the draft. The only question is where and on what occasion the two countries’ leaders will meet in order to sign this important document,” Mrkić noted.

Commenting on Barack Obama’s reelection, he said that “this means continuity”.

“We are convinced that we can only strengthen our bilateral relations. We continue where we left off. We have good cooperation with the U.S. in many areas and we are convinced that we can make it stronger because we want the best possible relations with Washington,” Mrkić concluded.